Vacuum cleaner



Dec. 31, 1940. e. H. CRANMER VACUUM CLEANER Filed Jan. 28, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ,e/7V//M W BY ,Zrnad.

13% 46 3, ATTORNEY.

Dec. 31, 1940.

G.H.CRANMER VACUUM CLEANE R Filed Jan. 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Dec. 31, 1940. CRANMER 2,227,298

VACUUM CLEANE R Filed Jan. 28, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 56 20 1Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VACUUM CLEANER Application January 28, 1937, Serial No. 122,691

8 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to suctionnozzles for use in connection with vacuum cleaners.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro- 6 vide a nozzle which maybe moved back and forth over the surface undergoing cleaning moresmoothly than the nozzles of the prior art. Floor nozzles are usuallyconstructed with an elongated suction opening bounded by lips havingsurface contacting faces. In order that the nozzle will cover asubstantial area when moved back and forth, the lengthwise extent of theopening extends at right angles to the direction of movement.Consequently, the lengthwise lips also extend at right angles to thedirection of movement. .Many rugs have a nap consisting of tufts orbunches of bristle-like material secured to a backing. These bunches arearranged in regular rows and usually the bunches, instead of projectingstra ght up from the backing, are all more or less inclined in the samedirection. The width of the lengthwise lips is such that one lip usuallydoes not contact more than two rows at. a time, and when directly over arow, is chiefly supported by that row alone. Whenthe nozzle is movedover the nap, the lengthwise lips move from one row of bunches to thenext, the bunches bending as the lips pass over them. The nozzle slidessmoothly in the direction of the inclination of the bunches, as thebunches bend easily in this direction, but for movement ,in the oppositedirection the nap offers more resistance, as the bunches must be bentthe wrong way. Moreover, this resistance is not even, as it is relievedto a great extent when one row has been bent, and the nozzle then has atendency to jump to the next row. .With rugs of certain typesparticularly those having a comparatively stiff nap, movement of thenozzle in one direction thereover, resultsin a chattering of the nozzle.Furthermore, it is somewhat injurious to the rug to bend the bristlesthe wrong way.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for automaticallylifting the lengthwise lips 45 slightly out of contact with the rug uponmovement of the nozzle in one direction, while for movement in the otherdirection, the lips contact the rug. Thus, the bristles are not bent thewrong way and the chattering is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thread pickinglip for a' -n'ozzle, which is both efficient in removing threads andother objects which tend to adhere to the surface of the rug, and whichwill not become clogged by threads or any object removed from the mg.

A further advantage of my invention resides in the fact that theaforesaid lifting means cooperates with the thread-picking lip so as toprovide improved cleaning. During the forward stroke, when the lips arein contact with the rug, 5 the thread-picking lip dislodges threads andthe like, which tend to adhere strongly to the rug. While a substantialamount of such threads are picked up by the air stream, others are heldbetween the lip and the rug at the end of the forward stroke and wouldnot be picked up if the lip remained pressed against the rug. However,due to the fact that the lips are raised slightly from the rug duringthe rearward stroke, threads and the like caught underneath thethread-picking lip are released and the rush of air, also resulting fromlifting the lip, carries them into the nozzle.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings which form a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view, partially in cross-section of the nozzle shownin Fig. l, and is taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the nozzle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the lines5-5 of Figs. 2, 6 and 7;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, as seen from the rear, of a portion of thenozzle shown in preceding figures;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-Sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the lineI0l0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with certain of the parts in adifferent position;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I2-l 2 of Fig. 11and is similar to Fig. 5, but shows certain of the parts in a differentposition;

Fig. 13 is a front view, partially in cross-section, of a secondembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a bottom view, partially in cross-sec- 1' tion, of the nozzleshown in Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines l6l6 of Figs. 13and 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I1-l| of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I8l8 of Fi 15;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines l9l9 of Fig. 15 andFig. 20; and

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings, reference character I0 designatesgenerally myimproved nozzle. The nozzle I0 includes a hollow body member ll providedwith an elongated suction opening 42 at what is normally the bottom ofthe nozzle and a small circular opening l3 at what is normally the topof the nozzle. Opening I3 is formed in a substantially flat surface l4provided with grooves l5 extending tangential to the opening. The rearwall I6 of the hollow body is formed with a circular opening whichrotatably receives a hollow elbow member I1. The horizontal end of elbowI1 is closed by a wall I 8 which abuts against the forward wall IQ ofthe body II, and the elbow is secured in place by means of a screw 26threaded into wall 18 and having a head received in a recess 2| formedin the forward wall. A portion of the cylindrical wall of elbow H inalignment with openings l2 and I3 is cut away, as is shown at 22. In theposition of the parts shown, particularly in Fig. 4, opening I3 isclosed by elbow 11 while opening I2 communicates with the interior ofthe elbow through the opening 22. If the nozzle body is rotated througharound elbow l1, thus bringing opening I3 to the bottom and opening l2to the top, the opening l3 will communicate with the interior of theelbow while the opening l2 will be closed.

Openings I2 is bounder by rear wall I6, forward wall l9 and end walls 23and 24. The lower edge or lip of forward wall 19 is preferably formedwith a smooth face 25, while the lips of end walls 23 and 24 arelikewise formed with smooth faces 26 and 21, respectively. Faces 26 and21 are slightly arcuate, as may be seen particularly in Fig. 12. Thelower edge of rear wall I6 is formed with a semi-cylindrical groove 28in. which is rotatably received a rod 29, as shown particularly in Figs.4 and 9. A portion of the surface of rod 29 is smooth and cylindrical,while another portion thereof is formed with a plurality of teeth 30.The outer surface contacting faces 3| of the .teeth are straight. Alengthwise slot 32 intersects teeth 30 dividing the teeth into outerportions 33 and inner portions 34. The depth of the crosswise slots 35forrned between the teeth 30 varies from a maximum at the outer end ofthe slotto a minimum at the inner end thereof which communicates withthe nozzle opening [2. This reduction in depth results in a decrease" inthe cross-sectional area of each slot.

Rigidly secured to one end of rod 29 is an arm 35. The arm may besecured to the rod by means of a pin 36. The arm is provided with afinger engaging piece 31 and with a finger en gaging notch 38. A recess39 is formed in forward wall 19 for receiving arm 35 when in theposition shown, and a recess 40 receives the arm when in a positionsubstantially 180 from the first position. A flat spring 400. isdisposed between arm 35 and end wall 23 for frictionally resistingturning of the arm and rod 29.

The end of rod 29 to which arm 35 is secured is formed with acylindrical projection 4| which is adapted; to be received in acylindrical bore formed in end wall 23. The opposite end of rod 29 isformed with a recess into which extends a pin 42 carried by end wall 24.The rod 29 is thus rotatably retained within the semi-cylindrical groove28 and may be turned through 180 by turning arm 35 against the frictionof spring 40a. With the arm in the position shown'in Figs. 3, 4, '7 and8 the teeth are exposed, while if the arm is rotated throughapproximately 180, the teeth are turnedto a position within the groove28 and. the smooth cylindrical face of the rod is exposed. Accidentalrotation of the rod is prevented by spring 4lla and, when the nozzle ison the floor, by the fact that the end of the arm 35 must project belowthe bottom of the nozzle inorder to be turned from one position to theother.

End walls 23 and 24 extend rearwardly beyond rear wall I6 to form wingportions 45 and 46. The smooth faces 26 and 21 thus have a greatercontact area than they would if the end walls terminated at'rear wallI6. Each end wall is formed with a recess extending inwardly from itssmooth face 45 and 46, respectively, and members 41 and 48 are movablypositioned within these recesses. Inasmuch as members 41 and 48 areidentical, only the member 41 located at the left end of the nozzle asviewed in Fig. 2 need be described. Member 41 is provided with a surfacecontacting face 49 which conforms in contour with the face 26 of endwall 23 and forms a substantial part of this face. Member 41 ispivotally secured within the recess by means of a pin 50 having a head5| threaded into the outer portion 23a of end wall 23 and having a shank52 extending through a cylindrical opening in member 41 and engaging arecess formed in the inner por-- tion 231) of the end wall. Pin 56 islocated about opposite the end of forward wall 19, that is, near thefront of the nozzle.

Member 41 is formed with a bore 53 within which is received a coilspring 54. Spring 54 extends into a recess 55 formed in the upperhorizontal portion 230 of the end wall 23. The effect of spring 54 is toyieldingly project member 41 to the position shown in Fig. 12 where itsface 49 extends beyond the face 26 of the end wall.

Member 41 is formed with a slot 51 within which is received a flatportion of a latch member 58. A pin 59'is threaded into member andextends through a circular hole in latch 58, whereby the latch ispivotable about the pin. The latch is formed with an opening 60 ofsuficient size so that spring 54 may pass therethrough withoutcontacting the latch regardless of the position of the latter. Latch 58includes a knurled or roughened portion 6|, at right angles to the fiatportion,

. which may be contacted with the finger to pivot the latch back andforth. From the upper part of portion 61 there extends another portion62 having projections 63 and 64 at opposite sides. Outer portion 23a ofthe end wall is formed with a narrow slot 65 while inner portion 23b isformed with a comparatively wide slot 66. When the latch member is inthe position shown in Fig. 6, with projection 63 received within narrowslot 65, it holds member 41 in a position with itsface 49 flushed withface 26 of the end wall. 'On the other hand, when latch 58 is pivoted tothe position shown in Fig. 11, projection 64 engages within slot 66 andlimits the distance which spring 54 is able to project the member 41. 1

A rigid tubular member 10 is adapted to be secured within the outer endof elbow l1 and serves as a handle for moving the nozzle over the floor.

Tubular member I0 also serves to connect the interlor of elbow I! with asuitable source of suction through the medium of a flexible hose. Theoperation of the above described device is as follows:

For cleaning an ordinary rug, rod 29 is rotated.

to a position in which its smooth face is exposed. The nozzle, beingconnected to a source of suction as above described, is moved forwardand backward over the surface. Air flows into the nozzle through theopening l2. A portion of this air is drawn through the material of therug while the remainder passes underneath the nozzle lips. Thus, dirtimbedded in the rug or lying on its upper surface is removed by the airand carried to the vacuum cleaner unit.

In the event that an occasional thread is encountered on the rug whichadheres to the surface of the rug so strongly that the air flowing intoopening |2 does not remove it, the nozzle body l8 may be rotated through180 around elbow I! so as to bring the small opening l3 into contactwith the rug. The more concentrated flow of air combined with thewhirling produced by the tangential grooves I5 will remove the thread.

If there is a comparatively large number of threads on the rug, it wouldbe inconvenient to go over the entire rug with the small nozzle opening3. In this event, rod 29 is turned to the position shown particularly inFigs. 3, 7 and 9 so thatthe teeth 38 are exposed. Most of the air drawninto the nozzle now passes through the grooves 33 between the teeth.This results in a much greater flow of air under the rear lip than wasthe case previously when both the rear and the front lips were smooth.This greater flow of air is better able to remove threads, lint andother materials which cling to the surface of the rug.

Due to the fact that the cross-sectional area of grooves 33 decreasestoward the inner ends of the grooves, the velocity of air increases asit passes through the grooves. This increased velocity near the innerends of the grooves and in the region of lengthwise groove 32 tends toprevent threads and the like from getting caught in the lengthwisegrooves, and around the inner portions 34 of the teeth. This effect isincreased by locating the lengthwise grooves 34 close to the inner endsof the cross-wise grooves 33.

If the nozzle has a tendency to chatter as it is moved back and forthover the rug, latches 58 are movedfrom the position shown in Fig. 6 tothat shown in Fig. 11, thereby releasing the spring-pressed members 41and 48. The strength of spring 54 is such that, upon forward movement ofthe nozzle when the operator naturally bears down on tubular member 18,the members 41 and 48 are forced into the recesses so thatthe faces 49are substantially flushed with the faces of the end walls, and thenozzle operates as above described. However, on the rearward stroke ofthe nozzle, the operator does not bear down on the tubular member 10 andthe springs 54 are able to project the members 41 and 48 to the positionshown in Fig. 12. In this position,

the faces 49 project beyond the faces 26 and 21' some of the threads aremoved over the rug without being picked up, the spring -pressed membersare released in the manner above described, and hence lift-the lipsslightly on the reverse stroke. This releases the threads which may havebecome caught between the threadpicking lip and the rug during theforward stroke,

when the lip closely engages the rug, and such threads are picked up andcarried into the nozzle In the embodiment now under consideration thetoothed bar forming the rear lip of the nozzle is not rotatable, as itwas in the first embodiment, but is rigidly fixed in the nozzle body.This rod, designated by reference character 88, is formed at one endwith a portion 8| of reduced diameter which is received within anopening formed in portion 23b of the end wall 23. The other end of therod is formed with two flattened wing portions 82 and, as will be seenparticularly in Figs. 19 and 20, these wing portions are adapted to bereceived in a slot 83 extending upwardly from the bottom face of portion24b of end wall 24. The central part of slot 83 is enlarged so as toreceive a pin 84 which extends into a bore 85 formed in rod 88. Thus,the wing portions 82 received in slot 83 prevent rotation of the rodwhile pin 84, the diameter of which is bigger than the end portions ofthe slot 83, holds the wing portions in the slot. Pin 84 may be insertedbefore member 48 is secured in place. When the latter member is securedin place it prevents-accidental removal of the pin.

Rotatably mounted on rod 88 is a tubular masking member 86. Member 86 isnot a complete cylinder, but is formed with a portion cut away so as toprovide an open space 81. The left hand end of member 86, as viewed inFig. 15, encloses a bushing 88 rotatably mounted on the extension 8| ofrod 88. Bushing 88 is formed with a rib 89 which engages within a slot98 formed in masking member 86, whereby relative rotation between thebushing and the masking member is prevented. Integral with bushing 88 isa handle member 9| which may be rotated through approximately 180 fromthe position shown in Figs. 15 to a position in which the end of thehandle is received in a recess 92. Aspring 23b of end wall 23 to preventaccidental rotation of the bushing.

In the position of the handle 9| and masking member 86 shownparticularly in Figs. 15 and 18, the masking member serves to cover theteeth 38 of rod 80, thus presenting the smooth outer face of the maskingmember to the surface undergoing cleaning. .If it is desired to employthe teeth 30, the handle 9| is turned through approx mately 180, asabove described so as to bring the opening 81 of the masking member inalignment with the teeth30, whereby the teeth are exposed.

The latch mechanism for members 41 and 48 includes a latch member 95slidable with respect to the member 4 or 48. Inasmuch as both latch 93is disposed between bushing 88 and portion 60 mechanisms are the sameonly the one used in conjunction with member 4'! will be described.Member 41 is formed with a horizontally extending slot 96, a verticallyextending recess 91, a horizontally extending recess 98, and avertically extending slot 99. Latch member 95 includes a portion I00disposed in slot 96, a portion IOI disposed in recess 91, a portion I02disposed in recess 98 and a portion I03 disposed in slot 99. A springI04 is disposed behind portion IOI within recess 91 and serves toprevent unintended movement of the latch member 95. Portion I02 of thelatch memberis formed with projections I05 and I06, which correspond tosimilar projections 63 and 64, shown particularly in Figs 6 and 11. Thelength of the latch member is somewhat less than the width of member 41whereby it may be slid with respect to member 41 so that projection I05may extend into the narrow slot 65 formed in outer portion 23a of endwall 23, or so that projection I06 may extend into the wide slot 66formed in'the inner portion 23b of the end wall. With the latch in theformer position, member 41 is held with its lower face 49 substantiallyflush with the lower face '26 of end wall 23. When the latch is moved tothe latter position, that is with projection I06 extending into slot 66,spring 50 is able to pivot member 41 about pin 50 to an extent which islimited by the projection striking the bottom of the slot.

The embodiment just described may be used in the same manner toaccomplish the same results as has been described in connection with thefirst embodiment. Consequently, a repetition of the description of theoperation is not necessary.

While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposesof illustration only, and that the scope of my invention is to belimited only by the appended claims when viewed in the light of theprior art.

Certain'subject matter, herein disclosed but not claimed, is claimed inmy co-pending divisional application, Serial No. 178,199, filed December6, 1937.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved forward and backward over asurface to be cleaned, a hollow body having front, back and end lipsformed with surface contacting faces and defining an elongated nozzleopening having a lengthwise extent at right anles to the direction ofnozzle movement, said body being formed with recesses extending inwardlyfrom the faces of said end lips, members within said recesses extendingparallel to said direction and pivoted at their forward ends to saidbody, said members having faces for slidably contacting said surfacesand being pivotable between a position in which the faces thereof aresubstantially flush with'the adjacent lip facesand a position in whichthe faces thereof project beyond said adjacent lip faces, and means foryieldingly pivoting said members to the latter of said positions.

2, In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned,a hollow body having lips formed with surface contacting faces anddefining a, nozzle opening, a member movably carried by said body andhaving a smooth face of substantial area for slidably contacting saidsurface, a movable latch device on said member, said latch device in oneposition holding the member with the face thereof in substantialalignment with the faces of said lips, and means for yieldinglyprojecting said member beyond the faces of said lips to support saidnozzle with said lips spaced from said surface, said latch device inanother position limiting the distance said member is projected.

3. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned,a hollow body having lips formed with surface contacting faces anddefining a nozzle opening, a member movably carried by said body andhaving a smooth face of substantial area for slidably contacting saidsurface, a movable latch device on said member, said body being formedwith a narrow slot on one side of said member and with a comparativelywide slot on the other side of said member, said latch device beingmovable into said narrow slot for holding the member in a position withthe face thereof substantially in alignment with the faces of said lips,and means for yieldingly projecting said member beyond the faces of saidlips to support said nozzle with said lips spaced from said surface,said latch device being movable into said wide slot for releasing saidmember and for limiting the distance said member is projected.

4. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned,a hollow body having lips formed with surface contacting faces anddefining a nozzle opening, a member movably carried by said body andhaving a smooth face of substantial area for slidably contacting saidsurface, a latch device slidably mounted on said member, said body beingformed with a narrow slot on one side of said member and with acomparatively wide slot on the other side of said member, said latchdevice being slidable into said narrow slot for holding the member in aposition with the face thereof substantially in alignment with the faceof said lips, means for yieldingly projecting said member beyond thefaces of said lips to support said nozzle with said lips spaced fromsaid surface, said latch device being slidable into said wide slot forreleasing said member and for limiting the distance said member isprojected, and a spring restraining sliding movement of said latchdevice.

5. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved forward and backward over asurface to be cleaned, a hollow body having front, back and end lipsformed with surface contacting faces and defining an elongated nozzleopening having a lengthwise extent at right angles to the direction ofnozzle movement, said body being formed with recesses extending inwardlyfrom the faces of said end lips, members within said recesses extendingparallel to said direction and pivoted at their forward ends to saidbody, said members having faces for slidably contacting said surfacesand being pivotable between a position in which the faces thereof aresubstantially fiush with the adjacent lip faces and a position in whichthe faces thereof project beyond said adjacent lip faces, means foryieldingly pivoting said members to the latter of said positions, andmeans for retaining said members in the former position against theforce exerted by said first mentioned means. i

6. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved back and forth over a surfaceto be cleaned, a body having lips formed with surfacecontacting facesand defining a nozzle opening, at least one of said lips being formedwith lint-engaging projections, non-rotatable members movably carried bysaid body and having faces of substantial area for slidably contactingsaid surface, means for confining movement of said members to asubstantially up and down direction, said members being movable betweena position in which the faces thereof are substantially flush with thefaces of said lips and a position in which the faces thereof protrudebeyond the faces of said lips, and resilient means for yieldingly movingsaid members to the protrudingposition, the resiliency of said meansbeing such that said members areflush during the forward stroke of thenozzle under the downwardly directed thrust normally applied during theforward stroke, and protrude during the rearward stroke when said thrustis normally reduced, whereby the projections on said lips alternatelyengage said surface to dislodge objects adhering thereto and are spacedtherefrom for permitting flow of air under the grooved lip to remove thedislodged objects.

'7. In a suction nozzle adapted to be moved back and forth over asurface to be cleaned, a body having lips formed with surface-contactingfaces and defining a nozzle opening, at least one of said lips beingformed with grooves dividing its face into a plurality of projections,non-rotatable members movably carried by said body and having faces ofsubstantial area for slidably contacting said surface, means forconfining movement of said members to a substantially up and downdirection, said members being movable between a position in which thefaces thereof are substantially flush with the faces of said lips and aposition in which the faces thereof protrude body having a forward lipand a rear lip formed with surface-contacting faces and defining anozzle opening, said rear lip being formed with lintengagingprojections, members pivotally carried by said body and having faces ofsubstantial area for slidably contacting said surface, said membersbeing pivoted at their forward ends to the forward part of said body andbeing movable between a position in which the faces thereof aresubstantially flush with the faces of said lips and a position in whichthe faces thereof protrude beyond the faces of said lips, and resilientmeans for yieldingly moving said members to the protruding position, theresiliency of said means being such that said members are flush duringthe forward stroke of the nozzle under the downwardly directed thrustnormally applied during the forward stroke, and protrude during therearward stroke when said thrust is normally reduced, whereby theprojections on said lips alternately engage said surface and are spacedtherefrom.

GEORGE HORACE CRANMER.

